Empresas Polar: a symbol of resistance amid Venezuela crisisHated by country's leaders, loved by the people, food producer has shownhuge resilience during turmoil

When Lorenzo Mendoza attends baseball games, crowds treat him like a starplayer. Baseball is Venezuela's national sport and Mendoza, head of theCaracas-based food and drink producer Empresas Polar and once an avidamateur player, remains a big follower. His company sponsors several of thecountry's leading teams.

Venezuela is wrestling with its worst social, political, and economic crisisin living memory, however, and his sporting passion is not the main reasonwhy the fans have greeted him with cheers and chants of support. Not onlydoes his company stand out as a rare case of Venezuelan business resilienceat a desperate time, but Mendoza himself has become a symbol of resistance.

Post by jatEmpresas Polar: a symbol of resistance amid Venezuela crisisHated by country's leaders, loved by the people, food producer has shownhuge resilience during turmoilWhen Lorenzo Mendoza attends baseball games, crowds treat him like a starplayer. Baseball is Venezuela's national sport and Mendoza, head of theCaracas-based food and drink producer Empresas Polar and once an avidamateur player, remains a big follower. His company sponsors several of thecountry's leading teams.Venezuela is wrestling with its worst social, political, and economic crisisin living memory, however, and his sporting passion is not the main reasonwhy the fans have greeted him with cheers and chants of support. Not onlydoes his company stand out as a rare case of Venezuelan business resilienceat a desperate time, but Mendoza himself has become a symbol of resistance.https://www.ft.com/content/9f038fae-d368-11e6-b06b-680c49b4b4c0